There are many ways to show your dog that she is your best friend and an important member of your family.More >>

There are many ways to show your dog that she is your best friend and an important member of your family. From doing activities together to creating a space just for her, these are some easy ways you can strengthen your bond with your four-legged friend.More >>

Inviting guests to your home when you have a new or energetic dog can prove to be challenging. Just a little training -- for both your dog and your guests -- will make visits more enjoyable for everyone.More >>

Inviting guests to your home when you have a new or energetic dog can prove to be challenging. Just a little training -- for both your dog and your guests -- will make visits more enjoyable for everyone.More >>

Since your dog hasn't mastered speaking in words yet, you may wonder how you can tell if your dog is feeling okay. It turns out, many of the clues can come from just looking at your dog and reading his body language.More >>

Since your dog hasn't mastered speaking in words yet, you may wonder how you can tell if your dog is feeling okay. It turns out, many of the clues can come from just looking at your dog and reading his body language.More >>

Few of us consider that treatment for a single pet health incident or condition can cost $1,000 or more -- a reason many dog owners give for surrendering their pets to shelters. A recent survey from Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, identified the top 10 most common claims that cost $1,000 or more. They are:

Torn knee ligament/cartilage

Foreign object in the intestine

Foreign object in the stomach

Intervertebral disc disease

Stomach torsion/bloat

Broken leg

Laryngeal paralysis

Tumor of the throat

Ear canal surgery/Ablation

Ruptured bile duct

Heart disease, diabetes and other types of cancer didn't make the list because the survey includes large one-time expenses rather than the cost of care for chronic diseases.

Common Sudden Expenses for Dog OwnersOut of the top 10, the most common costly problems affecting dogs are Nos. 1 through 5, with three among those related to stomach and/or intestinal problems, according to Dr. Silene Young, a veterinarian and the director of veterinary marketing for VPI. Stomach torsion/bloat is of particular concern for large dogs, since this condition is usually fatal without immediate surgical intervention. "Basically, the dog stomach is like having a wet towel that is folded diagonally in half -- held at the corners and then swung around so it flips over on itself," says Young. "Because the stomach can't flip itself back around once this happens, the twist at each end obstructs the passage of food and fluid in or out of the stomach."

Treating this very serious condition is no easy task. "The surgery requires a large incision in the abdomen to twist the stomach back into place, evaluate for additional organ damage and then tacking the stomach to the wall of the abdomen permanently so it doesn't happen again," she explains. "Because most of these dogs are in critical condition on arrival to the hospital, the cost of care is not just surgical, but also supportive."

Preventable ConditionsWhen shown the top 10 list, Dr. Karen Halligan, a veterinarian and the director of veterinary services at the Los Angeles SPCA, was surprised. "What I thought was interesting was that several of the conditions on the list were preventable." Dog owners, for example, can be more vigilant about not overfeeding, particularly over a short period of time, as this is one cause of bloat.

Halligan was also surprised with throat tumors being that common, since she rarely diagnoses them, but cancer in general is on the rise, partially because pets are living longer. That's an important point, because dogs go through the aging process faster than we do. Prevention can help to stave off certain health problems, but you will probably be caring for your pet through its old age, when medical issues can creep up.

Pet Insurance to the RescueThe only thing likely to cure the shock you experience when a steep veterinary bill comes is pet health insurance. "Most of us will have pets with an expensive veterinary bill at least once," says Young. "Pet insurance is how you plan and prepare for that eventuality so, in a time of stress, you can focus on your dog and not your bank account."

People often think that insurance is an investment that should pay back money. Some owners do save quite a bit, however, depending on when an illness or accident happens. Like home, auto or any other type of insurance, however, the real benefit is planning for the future -- with your dog in mind.

Jennifer Viegas is the managing editor of The Dog Daily. She is a journalist for Discovery News, the news service for the Discovery Channel, and has written more than 20 books on animals, health and other science-related topics.

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